Hello everyone,
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
R
Reluctance6 Jul 2019 22:24ypg schrieb:
Is that optimized or taken into account? I don’t know. I hope the designer has considered that. It’s basically not my responsibility. But I’ll probably have to double-check it myself.
I also need to talk to the planner again about the bathroom—I don’t understand why something like that would be drawn if it’s too small…
ypg schrieb:
Where will it fit? Well, I have almost 6 square meters (about 65 square feet) of kitchen run now—how much more do I actually need? In our current apartment, I have a 4-meter (13 feet) kitchen run without upper cabinets. The entire room is only about 4.50 x 2.30 meters (15 x 7.5 feet) (I still need to measure exactly)… that’s what I’m using as a reference. So I’m happy that it will be bigger in the future.
ypg schrieb:
Because rooms are defined and planned, yes. Room length stays the same. Well, placement of the furniture definitely affects that. But it’s not like everyone has a corner or something built in, right?
And yes, I would also wish the planner would include the furniture in the drawings, but he doesn’t, because from his point of view it doesn’t matter for the building permit/planning permission. It took me weeks to get the couch drawn to the correct dimensions. Of course, the kitchen is drawn incorrectly now too—it’s annoying to chase that down… so I just sketch it myself on paper and accept that the planner’s drawings are incomplete.
ypg schrieb:
Always!... … Whoops: I’ve fully engaged with your design and ideas (just like I do with almost all), and ONLY corrected the mistakes. I personally would have designed a totally different house, even with the same conditions (couple, no children, spacious, etc.), though.
But it’s your house… so I’m out. This is not an attack. I’m grateful for any help. I’m supposed to submit the building permit/planning application next week, and I’m starting to feel like I’ve made a huge mistake, designed a total disaster, hired an idiot as a planner, and a general contractor who has no clue. It’s just not a great feeling when you have to finalize something for once.
Reluctance schrieb:
I don't know. I hope the planner takes that into account. It’s basically not my responsibility. Of course it is.
The general contractor doesn’t know how much importance you place on space for the sofa and kitchen.
Reluctance schrieb:
I still need to discuss the bathroom with the planner — I don’t understand why it’s drawn that way if it’s too small... Because you gave him those plans and he just copied them! Maybe you have a reason for a windowless bathroom ;(
Reluctance schrieb:
Well, I have just under 6 square meters (65 square feet) of kitchen counter — how much more do I really need? Right now, I have 4 meters (13 feet) without wall cabinets. It’s not about the drawn length. You haven’t even planned for two tall cabinets for the fridge and oven yet... um...
Reluctance schrieb:
Well, with the furniture arrangement, sure. But it’s not like everyone has a corner unit or something, right, or am I wrong? Luckily not.
Reluctance schrieb:
The planner doesn’t include furniture because it doesn’t matter for the building permit / planning permission from his point of view. But it can’t be indifferent to you.
Reluctance schrieb:
Of course, the kitchen is now incorrectly drawn — Oh…
Reluctance schrieb:
Drawn — it’s annoying to keep chasing after corrections… d ? You don’t have to, if the kitchen, dining table, sofa, and TV are going to be arranged in a row. Somehow, there should be enough space over 8 meters (26 feet) length.
Reluctance schrieb:
This is not an attack. I appreciate all help. You haven’t accepted it so far.
Reluctance schrieb:
My building permit / planning permission application is supposed to be submitted next week, and right now I feel like I’m making a huge mistake, that I planned a total disaster, that I have an idiot as a planner, and a general contractor who has no clue. It’s definitely not a great feeling when you have to finalize something. Well... we can always start over if you want, but preferably without me. My input on the floor plan is clear.
R
Reluctance6 Jul 2019 23:07ypg schrieb:
Of course.
The general contractor doesn’t know how much importance you place on the space for the sofa and kitchen.But this was about the window area compared to the facade area, right? What does that have to do with sofa, kitchen, etc.? We already told the planner how much space we planned for the sofa, kitchen, etc.—for example, that I need at least 4m (13 feet) from the sofa to the wall, and so on.
ypg schrieb:
Because you presented it to him that way, and he drew it accordingly! Maybe you have a reason for a bathroom without a window ;(Well, with ventilation systems these days, that’s really not a problem anymore. That’s common in office buildings and so on. But sure, I hadn’t considered that. I guess we’ll just leave out the bathroom then.
ypg schrieb:
This isn’t about the length you’ve drawn in. You haven’t even drawn two tall cabinets for the fridge and oven yet... uh...No, why would we need to include that in the building permit / planning permission? As I said, the general contractor never draws furniture or fixtures correctly anyway.
ypg schrieb:
You didn’t accept that until now.Your suggestions:
1. Make the windows bigger! Done.
2. Straighten the bedroom wall for the kitchen! Done.
3. Move the storage room next to the kitchen! Done.
4. Plan the wardrobe at 60cm (24 inches)! Done.
5. …
We didn’t implement:
1. Swap hallway and hobby room, because we think differently and prefer to have the living and hobby area together.
2. Corner in the living room – because we want to keep that space.
Sorry for not implementing everything. But that doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for the tips and ideas.
ypg schrieb:
Well, we can also start over again if you want, but preferably without me. My contributions to the floor plan are clear. No, I don’t have time to start over and don’t plan to. It’s okay now. I just hope I haven’t ended up building a disaster of a house...
Reluctance schrieb:
No, why do we have to include that in the building permit / planning permission application? Probably not required for the application, but for you: later on, something might no longer fit properly and then it could become a lasting annoyance,
Reluctance schrieb:
No, I don't have time to start over from scratch. Haha...
Reluctance schrieb:
Well, with modern ventilation systems, that's really not a problem in the end. It works like that in office buildings and so on. But sure, I hadn’t thought of that. I guess we'll just leave out the bathroom then. Nice conclusion:
The client places something in the wrong place. The draftsman copies it. A third party criticizes it. As a result, the client gets annoyed and leaves it out.
I’d love to have clients like that
Reluctance schrieb:
Suggestion from you:
- Make the windows bigger! Done that
- Make the bedroom wall bigger! Done that
- Move the storage room next to the kitchen! Done that
- Plan the wardrobe for 60cm (24 inches)! Done that
- ...
Hey, it’s not my design… you’re not doing me any favors!
R
Reluctance6 Jul 2019 23:57ypg schrieb:
Hey, that’s not my design... you’re not doing me any favors!Well, then I have to ask: why do you complain that I don’t accept your help? Now when I list how I actually did accept it, suddenly it doesn’t matter.
That’s absolutely fine with me. But with that, I’m out of here. At the moment, I’m simply not willing to engage with such pseudo or empty arguments. That’s not helping me at all.
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